Systems and methods for using network architecture planning tools

ABSTRACT

A method of planning a network architecture includes receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to initiate a network architecture planning process, in response to the request, transmitting an electronic file comprising a first display screen to the user computer, wherein the first display screen comprises a question relating to a parameter of the network architecture, receiving at the host computer system a first response to the question, transmitting at least a second electronic file comprising a second display screen to the user computer, wherein the second display screen comprises context-sensitive content based on at least one previous response, receiving at the host computer system at least a second response to the at least a second display screen, determining at least a first action based on the first response and the at least a second response, and transmitting information relating to the at least a first action for display at the user computer.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional of provisional U.S. PatentApplication Serial No. 60/379,571, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORCREATING NETWORK PLANNING ARCHITECTURES, LABELS AND CONFIGURATIONS”(Attorney Docket No. 020366-087000) filed on May 9, 2002 by Tammy Brown,which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

[0002] This application is related to commonly assigned and concurrentlyfiled U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR CREATING NETWORK ARCHITECTURE PLANNING TOOLS” (AttorneyDocket No. 020366-087010) filed on ______ by Tammy S. Brown, and tocommonly assigned and concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser.No. ______, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARCHUVING NETWORK PLANNINGPROCESSES” (Attorney Docket No. 020366-087030) filed on ______ by TammyS. Brown, which applications are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many businesses and organizations require or desirestandardization with respect to their products and/or services. The needor desire for standardization may be driven by, for example, a businessmodel embodied in a corporation's strategy or policy, contracts oragreements with government entities or other businesses, laws relatingto the business, and the like. For example, in the telecommunicationindustry the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) shareresponsibility for maintaining and expanding the public switchedtelephone network (PSTN). In order to ensure that a new phone installedin a home in Bangor, Me. functions properly when placing a call to a30-year-old phone in Los Angeles, Calif., the phone and any switchinglocations servicing the phone must be installed according tonetwork-wide standards. Further, laws such as the Telecommunications Actof 1996 require a certain degree of network standardization so thatCompetitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) are able to use and maintainthe network infrastructure installed by the RBOCs. However, a number offactors may complicate efforts to achieve standardization.

[0004] Once again using the example of the telecommunications industry,the shear size of the PSTN, the number of different possibleinstallations, and the myriad factors that drive the need forstandardization, produce literally millions of permutations for atelephone or central office installation. Add to this the number ofdifferent telecommunication equipment manufacturers competing to providehardware, and the problem of maintaining standardization becomesseemingly unmanageable.

[0005] In the past, some companies have relied on flow charts to attemptto guide designers. The flowcharts may have been created by businesspolicy implementers based on changes or additions to the businessespolicy, new laws affecting the company's business, and/or the like.However, traditional flowcharts have numerous limitations. For example,a complex flowchart may guide the user through several branching points,each having multiple options, with no safeguard to ensure the userreturns to complete all paths from the branching points. Further,traditional flowcharts do not necessarily record the decision processthat results in a particular solution, a feature that would bebeneficial to businesses that may be called to demonstrate compliancewith laws or regulations.

[0006] Thus, for the foregoing reasons, a decision tool is needed thatincorporates evolving requirements, standardizes a business' productsand/or services, and records the steps in a decision process, amongother things.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention thus provide a method ofplanning a network architecture The method includes receiving at a hostcomputer system a request from a user computer to initiate a networkarchitecture planning process, in response to the request, transmittingan electronic file comprising a first display screen to the usercomputer, wherein the first display screen comprises a question relatingto a parameter of the network architecture, receiving at the hostcomputer system a first response to the question, transmitting at leasta second electronic file comprising a second display screen to the usercomputer, wherein the second display screen comprises context-sensitivecontent based on at least one previous response, receiving at the hostcomputer system at least a second response to the at least a seconddisplay screen, determining at least a first action based on the firstresponse and the at least a second response, and transmittinginformation relating to the at least a first action for display at theuser computer.

[0008] Transmitting at least a second electronic file comprising asecond display screen may include performing a calculation based on thefirst response to determine the context-sensitive content of the seconddisplay screen. The network architecture may relate to a portion of thepublic switched telephone network. The method may include validating thefirst response. The at least a first action may include adding at leastone configuration item related to the network architecture to a list ofconfiguration items. The at least a first action may include contactingan individual for information relating to the network architecture. Theat least a first action may include obtaining educational informationrelating to the network architecture. The educational information may belocated on a web site and the information relating to the action mayinclude a URL for the web site. The at least a first action may includecompleting a form relating to the network architecture.

[0009] In other embodiments of the present invention, a system forplanning a network architecture includes a host computer system and anetwork that communicably couples the host computer system to at leastone user computer. The host computer system may be programmed to receivea request from the user computer to initiate a network architectureplanning process, transmit an electronic file comprising a first displayscreen to the user computer, wherein the first display screen comprisesa question relating to a parameter of the network architecture, receiveat the host computer system a first response to the question, transmitan electronic file comprising at least a second display screen to theuser computer, wherein the second display screen comprisescontext-sensitive content based on at least one previous response,receive at the host computer system at least a second response to the atleast a second display screen, determine at least a first action basedon the first response and the at least a second response, and transmitinformation relating to the at least a first action for display at theuser computer.

[0010] The network architecture may relate to a portion of the publicswitched telephone network. The host computer system may be furtherprogrammed to validate the first response. The at least a first actionmay include adding at least one configuration item related to thenetwork architecture to a list of configuration items, contacting anindividual for information relating to the network architecture and/orobtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.The educational information may be located on a web site and theinformation relating to the at least a first action may include a URLfor the web site. The at least a first action may include completing aform relating to the network architecture.

[0011] In still other embodiments, a method of planning includesreceiving at a host computer system a request to initiate a planningprocess, transmitting to a user computer an electronic file comprisingat least a first object, wherein the at least a first object requests aresponse, receiving at the host computer system a first response fromthe user computer, determining at least a next object, transmitting anelectronic file comprising the at least a next object to the usercomputer, receiving a next response and listing at least a first actionrelating to the first response and the next response.

[0012] Reference to the remaining portions of the specification,including the drawings and claims, will realize other features andadvantages of the present invention. Further features and advantages ofthe present invention, as well as the structure and operation of variousembodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below withrespect to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of thepresent invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portionsof the specification and the drawings wherein like reference numeralsare used throughout the several drawings to refer to similar components.

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a system for network architecture planningaccording to embodiments.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of creating a planningtool according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of creating a planningtool according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a planningtool according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 illustrates an object template according to one specificembodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIGS. 6A-B illustrate a response list and a configuration listaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention provides a configurable planning tool. Thetool and the method for using it may be applied in a wide variety ofplanning environments, particularly those that require standardizationand the integration of planning requirements from multiple sources.However, the present invention is not limited to these types ofenvironments.

[0021] By way of example and not limitation, the present invention willbe described herein primarily as a network planning tool in thetelecommunications industry. However, a multitude of other uses willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosurehere. Thus, the present invention is not limited to planning tools foreither networks or the telecommunication industry.

[0022] The PSTN comprises numerous building blocks that may be analyzedon several different levels. For example, at one level, the PSTNincludes building blocks such as central offices (COs), residentialinstallations, business installations, and the like. However, at a lowerlevel, the PSTN includes routers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, relays,switches, and the like. At an even lower level, the PSTN includes racks,power supplies, copper cable, fiber optic cable, and the like. Thus,like most any product—or service—the PSTN may be divided into smaller,standard components, that may be combined in multiple different ways toproduce many unique versions of the end item.

[0023] In this example of the present invention relating to thetelecommunication industry, the PSTN will be considered at three levels:architectures, models, and configurations. Architectures are thestarting point for network planners and engineers. Examples ofarchitectures include residential telephone installations, business T-1installations, COs, and the like. Thus, prior to adding an item to thePSTN, a network planner or engineer would decide which architecture isapplicable to the new item.

[0024] Architectures are made up of models. Once a planner determinesthe appropriate architecture, different models may be required dependingupon the specific parameters of the architecture. For example, aresidential telephone installation architecture may be for a singlefamily residence, a four-unit town home, or a 150 unit high riseapartment complex. The single family residence might require only asingle terminal, while the apartment complex might require a switchingpanel, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and numerous terminals. Thus,depending upon the size and complexity of an architecture, severaldifferent models or possibly only a single model may be required.

[0025] Configurations are the building blocks of models. Configurationsmay be considered ordering units, individual components that may beenumerated on an order form, bill of materials, or equipment schedule.In theory, a network planner should be able to present a technician witha list of configurations that the technician then may use to complete aninstallation. However, heretofore, the planning process lackedsufficient rigor to function this simply in practice.

[0026] Previous attempts to accomplish network planning usingarchitectures, models and configurations fell short of optimal. Suchattempts included the use of flow charts at the architecture and modellevels to guide the user to the necessary configurations. For example,the user would select an architecture flowchart, depending upon the typeof installation being planned. The flowchart may have been availableelectronically or in paper form. However, being a mere two dimensionalrepresentation of a planning process, a flowchart suffered from a numberof inherent limitations.

[0027] First, complex network planning flowcharts often have numerouspoints with multiple options. When completing a flow chart manually, theflowchart may not force the user back to complete all possible options.Thus, critical network configurations may be overlooked.

[0028] Second, flowcharts are not easily updated. In the networkplanning environment, design requirements change often. As will bedescribed, requirements that drive network configurations originate frommany sources and are subject to change. However, changing the pathsthrough a flowchart as a result of a requirements change may requiresubstantial effort.

[0029] Third, even though the process of completing a flowchart mayproduce an accurate configuration list, the decisioning process thatresulted in the list is not saved for future reference. For example, ifa parameter changes (e.g., the number of telephones to be installed in abusiness) that affects the configurations, a network planner may need torepeat the entire flowchart to see how the change affects the specificconfigurations needed. This can be a laborious task in many cases. Evenmore importantly, however, because compliance with some requirements issubject to government regulation, documentation of a decisioning processmay be required to demonstrate that compliance. Manual flowcharts do notresult in such documentation. Thus, for these reasons, prior solutionsfell short of providing the benefits of the present invention, as willbecome apparent.

[0030] As stated previously, PSTN network requirements derive from manysources. First, standard engineering drives the need for someconfigurations. However, other requirements sources may be more dynamic.For example, a corporation's policy may drive configurations. Atelecommunications company may adopt a policy relating to planing forfuture growth that all non-residential installations must be sized for150% of current projections. Thus, each installation must account forthis policy in the decisioning process. If this policy later changes,the changes must be implemented. As another example, a corporation maynegotiate agreements with suppliers that drive configurations.Agreements to purchase in quantities at a discounted rate, for example,must be included in decisioning processes. Further, standards requiredby law may drive specific PSTN installations. As these standards change,so must the planning tools used to implement them. The present inventionsatisfies these and many other objectives.

[0031] The present invention may be embodied in a number of differentarrangements, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. The planning system100 of FIG. 1 should not be considered limiting; many other possiblearrangements are apparent to those skilled in the art in light of thisdisclosure, all of which are considered to be within the scope of thepresent invention. The planning system 100 includes a host computersystem 102. The host computer system 102 may be, for example, a servercomputer, a personal computer, a workstation, or other suitablecomputing device. The host computer system 102 includes applicationsoftware that programs the host computer system 102 to perform one ormore methods according to the present invention. For example,application software resident on the host computer system 102 mayprogram the host computer system 102 to act as a web site server.

[0032] The host computer system 102 may comprise a single computingdevice, that includes data storage. However, in other embodiments, thehost computer system 102 may comprise several computing devices and datastorage arrangements that cooperate to perform the functions of the hostcomputer system 102. For example, the host computer system 102 mayinclude a web site server, an email server, a mass storage arrangement,a security server, and the like. In this example of the presentinvention, a planning database 104 is illustrated as being separate fromthe host computer system 102; however, the two may be integral with eachother. In some embodiments, the planning database 104 is co-located withthe host computer system, while in other embodiments, the twocommunicate through a network, such as the network 106.

[0033] The system 100 also includes a network 106. The network 106 maybe the Internet, an intranet, a wide area network (WAN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a virtual private network, any combination of theforegoing, or the like. Through the network 106, user computers 108 mayaccess the host computer system 102 and the planning database 104.

[0034] The user computers 108 are the tools through which networkplanners and engineers interact with the present invention to plannetwork projects. The user computers 108 may be most any computingdevice such as a personal computer, or the like. For instance, the usercomputers may be desktop PCs, laptop PCs, server computers, and/orworkstations. In some embodiments, one or more user computers may bepersonal digital assistants (PDAs) or the like. The user computers 108may access the network 106, and thus the host computer system 102 andthe planning database 104, through wireless or wired connections.

[0035] The planning system 100 also includes one or more architecturemanager computers 110. The architecture manager computers 1 10 may beany of the computing devices discussed with respect to the usercomputers 108, and may access the network 106 through wired or wirelessconnections. The architecture manager computers 110 are tools throughwhich architecture managers implement planning tools for newarchitectures, models, and configurations. Thus, architecture managersperform the “authoring” function of the present invention, as will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter.

[0036] The planning system 100 also includes at least one administrationcomputer 112. The administration computer 112 is the tool through whicha system administrator accesses the host computer system 102 and theplanning database 104. System administrators write, compile, and executethe software that performs the functions of the present invention.System administrators also perform many other system administrationfunctions such as server maintenance, user enrollment and accesstermination, software updates, and the like.

[0037] In some embodiments, any particular computer may function as anarchitecture manager computer 110, administration computer 112, or usercomputer 108. Security systems, however, may limit access to particularfunctions such that users of one class cannot access functions of otherclasses.

[0038] Many other components may be present in the planning system 100of the present invention. Further, all possible embodiments of thepresent invention do not necessarily include the components discussedherein. For example, in some embodiments, the various components may beintegrated into a single workstation or other computing device. Manyother variations are apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthis disclosure. Thus, the present invention is not limited to thisexample of a planning system 100.

[0039] Attention is now directed to FIG. 2, which illustrates a method200 of authoring a planning tool according to the present invention. Themethod 200 may be used to author network planning tools. For example,the method 200 may be used by architecture managers to author tools forarchitectures, models, and configurations.

[0040] The method begins at operation 202, determining a sequence ofsteps in the planning process. At this operation, an author, such as anarchitecture manager, who is responsible for a particular type ofinstallation integrates the requirements for the installation. This mayinclude compiling requirements from corporate policies, supplieragreements, industry standards, manufacturer requirements, and the like.The operation also includes identifying the possible variables that mayaffect the configurations needed for any particular installation. Forexample, the variables for a business telephone installation mayinclude: the number of telephones and fax machines to be installed; thecustomer premises equipment to which the installation will interface;the distance to the nearest central office; the type of wire servicingthe installation; the existing capacity of the wire; the location of theinstallation relative to the wire service panel; and the like. These andmany other variables may affect the configurations needed to support anyparticular installation.

[0041] Operation 202 also includes determining a logical sequence thatshould be used to gather information relating to the variables. Forexample, the type of wire servicing the installation (e.g., copper orfiber) makes a significant difference in the configurations needed forthe installation. Thus, it may be advantageous to identify this variableearly in the process. In fact, an author may wish to use this questionto drive a user from a particular architecture tool to a model tool.

[0042] As explained previously, models are building blocks forarchitectures, and configurations are the building blocks for models.Part of the authoring process is determining the appropriate level forsegmenting architectures into models. In some embodiments, it isadvantageous to segment architectures into modules at points whereequipment (i.e., configurations) is most significantly affected. In thecase of network planning tools, whether an installation is serviced bycopper wire or fiber optic cable is such a significant point. Thus, inthe present example, one of the early steps in the planning process atthe architecture level may be “Determine type of wire servicing theinstallation.” The response by a user to this step during an actualplanning session may lead the user to different model tools.

[0043] Operation 202 continues until all possible variables affectingconfigurations needed in an installation are accounted for and reducedto steps in a particular sequence. Operation 202 may be compared to asystems engineering process wherein the design for a complex system isrecursively analyzed with each recursion focusing on a lower level ofdetail than the previous recursion. To wit, the sequence of steps may besubdivided into one or more architecture tools, each leading to a numberof model tools. In some embodiments, model tools may be shared witharchitectures relating to different type of installations. For example,a module relating to sizing a demultiplexer and selecting the necessaryconfigurations may be used both for a business telephone installation,and a residential telephone installation, such as for an apartmentcomplex. Other examples are possible. In some embodiments, a user may beallowed to select among different models that each could satisfy therequirements of the installation. For example, one model may relate toan installation using equipment from manufacturer A, while a secondmodule relates to an installation using equipment from Manufacturer B.

[0044] Once the sequence of steps is determined, at step 204 at leastone object is selected to associate with each step. Objects are programelements used to construct planning tools. As will be explained in moredetail hereinafter, objects may display a question, perform acalculation, provide information, and the like. Objects may be contextsensitive. For example, an object that requests a response to a questionmay have different possible answers depending upon where the stepassociated with the object appears in the sequence of steps and whatresponses preceded the object. Ultimately, objects identify one or moreconfigurations needed for an installation.

[0045] Objects may be selected from a library of objects, or objects maybe customized for a particular architecture or model tool. Ideally, anyparticular object is used in numerous tools, thus reducing the number ofunique objects required in the planning system.

[0046] At operation 206, the author links the objects according to thesequence. Links may be conditional, thus linking to different objectsdepending upon the condition. In some embodiments, the links also areobjects.

[0047] The objects and links are stored in a database or other storagearrangement suitable for the specific embodiment. For example, in someembodiments, objects and links are data elements in a database programsuch as Microsoft Access. What results is an end-to-end planning toolthat leads a user through a sequence of steps that results in aconfiguration list for a particular installation. The use of such a toolwill be explained in more detail below, as will one specific embodimentof an authoring tool.

[0048] A planning tool according to the present invention has a numberof advantages. First, if properly designed, the architecture or modeltool forces the user to follow all paths relevant to the particularinstallation. Unlike the case with manual flowcharts, it is difficultfor the user to omit steps or sequences. Further, the tool may be easilymodified without changing the entire tool. If new requirements becomenecessary to implement, the author is able to modify only the objectsaffected by the new requirements, while the remainder of the toolremains intact. Further still, as will be explained, a user's paththrough a planning process may be saved for future reference ormodification. If compliance with a mandated decision process isrequired, the path may be presented for inspection. Additionally, ifinstallation parameters change and result in a change to the decisionprocess, the path may be updated to reflect the change without needingto re-accomplish the entire process through the tool. In someembodiments, if a revised parameter alters the decision path, the toolmay determine the resulting alternative path together with a revisedconfiguration list. If the new path leads to objects not encounteredduring the original decision process, thus resulting in parameters toenter, then the tool may complete the decision process up to the pointthat the new path diverges from the prior path. The user then maycomplete the remainder of the decision process.

[0049] Attention is directed to FIG. 3, which illustrates a method 300of creating a network planning tool using a host computer system. Thehost computer system in this method may be the host computer system 102of FIG. 1, which receives information from and transmits information toone or more user computers 108 and/or architecture manager computers110. In the case of the method 300 of creating a network planning tool,the host computer system interacts with an architecture managercomputer. The method 300 begins at operation 302 when the host computersystem receives a request to display a list of objects. The request maytake many forms. The request may be for only objects related toparticular types of architectures or models. Alternatively, the requestmay be for only objects of a particular type, such as questions,calculations, information, or the like. The request may be generatedwhen a user (e.g., an architecture manager, in the present example)selects a hyperlink on a web page. A specific example of the presentinvention embodied in an HTML environment employing hyperlinks and thelike will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

[0050] At operation 303, the host computer system selects objectsrelating to the request from a library of objects and sends the list tothe requesting computer. In some embodiments no library exists or existsonly after a user creates the objects. If a library exists and a list ofobjects is transmitted at operation 303, the host computer system mayreceive a selection of an object at operation 304.

[0051] At operation 306, the host computer system receives a selectionfor another object. Operation 306 may be preceded by a second request,similar to the request at operation 302, to receive a list of objects inthe library or a list of objects meeting certain criteria. At operation308, the host computer receives a link that associates the first objectwith another object. The link may include criteria that makes the linkconditional. For example, in the case of a conditional link having twopossible outcomes such as “true” and “false,” the link may associate thefirst object with a second object upon the occurrence of a “true”condition, and associate the first object with a third object upon theoccurrence of a “false” condition. The condition may be based onresponses obtained in response to questions in previous objects. Manyother conditional situations are possible.

[0052] Objects also may result in the identification of a configuration.In fact, in network architecture planning applications, the intent ofthe planning process is to create a list of all configurations neededfor an installation. Thus, the linking of objects typically leads to anobject that causes a configuration to be added to a configuration list,although this is not always the case. Terminal objects may lead to otheractions. For example, a terminal object may instruct the user tocomplete a form, contact an individual for instructions or to provideinformation, seek information from an educational resource such as a website, and the like. Many other examples are possible.

[0053] At operation 310, the host computer system stores the objects andthe link associating the objects. As mentioned previously, the objectsand links may be data elements in a typical database application.However, many other software applications may be used, as is apparent tothose skilled in the art.

[0054] In some embodiments, the process of receiving objects andreceiving links associating objects continues until the entire planningprocess is reduced to data. Thus, operation 310 may branch back tooperation 306 as shown. However, it also may be the case that no objectsexist in a library or an object is needed that is not available in alibrary. In this case, a new object may be created at operation 312.

[0055] Operation 312 may include receiving a request at the hostcomputer to transmit an object template. Every object can be classifiedinto a discrete set of object types. Thus, some embodiments of thepresent invention include object templates to aid in the creation of newobjects. Object templates will be explained in more detail hereinafterwith reference to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Operation 312 also includes receiving the attributes that definean object. As mentioned previously, an object may ask a question,perform a calculation, transmit information, list a configuration, linkto another object, and the like. Thus, the particular attributes of anobject are defined at operation 312. Attributes may include thequestion, the potential response, the formula for a calculation, aconditional expression, actions to take based on the conditions, and thelike. For example, in the network architecture planning process, anobject may ask the distance from an equipment rack to a switching panel.If the distance is greater than a predetermined distance (25 feet, forexample), an additional configuration, such as a repeater or signalbooster, may be required in the final list of configurations.

[0057] After an object definition is received at operation 312, themethod may proceed to operation 308 where a link associating thenewly-defined object with a previously-identified object is received.The method may continue as shown until the entire planning process for aparticular architecture is reduced to data.

[0058] Attention is directed to FIG. 5 which depicts a display screenillustrating an exemplary object template according to one specificembodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates anHTML page, presented in a well-known web browser environment, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The display screen 500 is aform object template. The form object, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, asks a question the relates to a parameter for theinstallation being planned. The display screen includes a navigationarea 502, a template area 504, and a help area 506. The navigation area502 includes a number of hyperlinks 508 for navigating to differentdisplay screens in the authoring tool. The help area 506 includes briefdescriptions of the fields to be completed in the template area 504. Thetemplate area 504 includes a number of fields and buttons that definethe object as will be described.

[0059] In the template area 504 of the form template display screen 500,a question name 510 identifies the object. As stated previously, objectsmay be used multiple times within a planning tool or may be used indifferent planning tools. Thus, the question name 510 serves to uniquelyidentify the object. The description field 512 provides a more detaileddescription of the form. In this case, the description filed mimics thequestion field. However, this is not required. The author may includeany text in the description field 512 that aids a future user inunderstanding the purpose of the object. The form type field 514 relatesto the appearance of the form to the end user. In this case, the formbeing created will include radio buttons. However, other appearances,such as drop-down menus and the like are possible. The active field 516determines which of the possible answers to the question presented inthe form will be the default answer. In this case, “yes” will be thedefault answer. The question field 518 identifies the question that willbe asked of the user when the object is encountered during the planningprocess. In this case, the user will be asked, “Is space available inthe existing bay for a new mux?” The option text field 520 includes thepossible answers to the question. In this case, the possible answers are“yes” and “no.” However, other questions may have additional possibleanswers. Thus, the Add option button 522 may be used to includeadditional possible answers. The commit record button 524 causes theinformation defining the object to be saved. The cancel button 526aborts the process of creating an object using the form template. Inother words, any information entered into the various fields is notsaved, and the browser displays a default display screen. The show nextbutton 528 advances to a display screen used to determine the nextobject in the planning process. The following contextual example willprovide greater insight into the workings of this example of the presentinvention.

[0060] The information contained in the data fields in the template area504 defines a form object that would ask a user in a planning processwhether an existing bay has room for a new mux (multiplexer). Thisobject may appear in any planning sequence that requires a new mux andhas an existing bay. For example, in a planning sequence, a form objectprior to the present form object in the sequence may have asked whetherthe existing premises equipment includes a bay. Another for object inthe sequence (or a number of form objects, together with other objectssuch as function objects), may have resulted in a determination that anew multiplexer is required (this may have generated a configurationthat includes a multiplexer). Having determined that a multiplexer isrequired, the task remained of determining whether a bay is required forhousing and mounting the mux. Thus, the planning sequence would resultin the presentation of the form object defined in this example todetermine if a new bay is required. If so, the result may be theimmediate listing of a configuration for a new bay. Alternatively, theuser may be presented with a series of question, each generated by aform object, that ask questions need to properly size a new bay, forexample. Many other examples are possible. However, this contextualdescription of the present example is intended to make such examplesapparent to those skilled in the art.

[0061] Having described several methods for creating networkarchitecture planning tools according to embodiments of the presentinvention and a specific example of an embodiment implemented in HTML,attention is now directed to FIG. 4 for a discussion of a method 400 ofusing a planning tool to create a list of configurations. The method 400may be implemented in the system 100 of FIG. 1, in which the hostcomputer system 102 interacts with a user computer, such as one of theuser computers 108. The user computer 108 may be used by a networkplanner or engineer creating the specification for a networkinstallation. The method begins at operation 402 when the host computersystem receives a request to initiate a planning session. In response tothe request, the host computer system transmits a file comprising atleast one object to the requesting computer at operation 404. The filemay include any of the previously-discusses object types. For example,one object may comprise a question, a second object may include textthat describes the question and the possible answers, a third object mayinclude a list of possible answers, a fourth object may identify aconditional link that identifies a subsequent object that depends uponthe condition, and so on. Many other examples are possible.

[0062] At operation 406, the host computer system receives a response tothe first object. The response may comprise, for example, an answer to aquestion in an object. At operation 408, the host computer system storesthe response. If the object that generated the response includes a nextobject identification, then the host computer system determines the nextobject at operation 410. However, it may be the case that the responserequires processing, as shown at operation 409, specifies an action, asshown at operation 411, or generates a configuration, as indicated byoperation 412.

[0063] If the response requires processing, the host computer may, forexample, evaluate a function included in the object. The function mayinclude information gathered from the user in response to previousobjects. The result of the processing may result in a next object, theplacement of a configuration, the listing of an action, and the like.Other examples are possible.

[0064] If the response causes an action to be specified, the action maybe displayed for viewing by the user. Actions may include contacting anindividual for more information or to provide information. Actions alsomay include the placement of one or more configurations. In someembodiments, actions may include an instruction to obtain informationfrom a reference source such as a web site, in which case the URL forthe web site may be displayed for the user. Other examples are possible.

[0065] If the response results in the placement of a configuration, thehost computer system adds the configuration to a configuration list andcontinues with the process of determining objects and displaying theobjects at the user computer. The process may continue until allconfigurations necessary for the installation are identified and listed.

[0066] In some embodiments, the user may terminate the process prior tocompletion. In some cases, this may generate a partial configurationlist for the installation. In other embodiments, no configuration listis generated as a safeguard to ensure completion of the planningprocess.

[0067] If the user terminates the process, the user may reinitiate theprocess at the point of termination at a later time. In someembodiments, upon reinitiation the host computer system may use thesequence of saved responses to reevaluate the planning process to thepoint of termination. As a result, any objects that may have changed inthe interim to implement new or changed requirements are properlyevaluated. If a response in the sequence of saved responses is not aproper response to an object, then the host computer system may promptthe user to reinitiate the process at the point of departure.

[0068] In some embodiments, the present invention saves the entiresequence of responses for future reference. FIGS. 6A-B depict an example600 of a sequence of responses to a planning session, as well as thecorresponding configuration list. The example includes a firstinformation block 602 that identifies the architecture tool used togenerate the configuration list, the date the tool was created, and thecreator of the tool, among other things. The example also includes asecond information block 604 that identifies the project for which theplanning session was done (the “Architecture Solution”), the date theplanning was done, and the individual that did the planning, among otherthings. The question and answer results section 606 includes eachquestion in the planning process, the answers to the questions, the datethe question was answered, and the identity of the person that answeredthe question. The configurations generated section 608 includes theconfiguration identification and the quantity of the configurationneeded. Other examples of a response sequence and configurations listare possible.

[0069] According to embodiments of the present invention, the planningprocess may be updated subsequent to its completion. For example, if auser, such as a network planner or engineer, uses a planning tool tocomplete a configuration list for an installation, the sequence ofresponses is saved, as has been described. However, if the planning toolis subsequently updated to reflect changed requirements, then the usermay use the saved sequence of responses to reevaluate the configurationlist. The tool may automatically enter responses from the saved listinto the sequence of planning steps. If a saved response is out of rangefor one of the questions in the sequence, then the tool may prompt theuser to enter a revised response and continue. It may be the case,depending upon the extend of revisions, that significant portions of theplanning process must be reaccomplished. However, if also may be thecase that the tool merely updates the configuration list based on thechanged requirements. This may be the case, for example, if a particularsupplier creates a new version of a configuration, and the new items issubstituted in place of the previous item in the planning process. Asstated, this would result in a new configuration being written to thelist. Otherwise, the planning sequence would remain intact. Having theplanning sequence saved has a number of additional, including that itdocuments compliance with any legally imposed requirements, such asadherence to industry standards in the network planning process.

[0070] Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized bythose of skill in the art that various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the invention. Additionally, a number of well known processesand elements have not been described in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring the present invention. For example, those skilled in the artknow how to arrange computers into a network and enable communicationamong the computers. Accordingly, the above description should not betaken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of planning a network architecture,comprising: receiving at a host computer system a request from a usercomputer to initiate a network architecture planning process; inresponse to the request, transmitting an electronic file comprising afirst display screen to the user computer, wherein the first displayscreen comprises a question relating to a parameter of the networkarchitecture; receiving at the host computer system a first response tothe question; transmitting at least a second electronic file comprisinga second display screen to the user computer, wherein the second displayscreen comprises context-sensitive content based on at least oneprevious response; receiving at the host computer system at least asecond response to the at least a second display screen; determining atleast a first action based on the first response and the at least asecond response; and transmitting information relating to the at least afirst action for display at the user computer.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein transmitting at least a second electronic file comprising asecond display screen comprises performing a calculation based on thefirst response to determine the context-sensitive content of the seconddisplay screen.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the networkarchitecture relates to a portion of the public switched telephonenetwork.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingvalidating the first response.
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein the at least a first action comprises adding at least oneconfiguration item related to the network architecture to a list ofconfiguration items.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the atleast a first action comprises contacting an individual for informationrelating to the network architecture.
 7. The method according to claim1, wherein the at least a first action comprises obtaining educationalinformation relating to the network architecture.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the educational information is located ona web site and the information relating to the action comprises a URLfor the web site.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the atleast a first action comprises completing a form relating to the networkarchitecture.
 10. A system for planning a network architecture,comprising: a host computer system; and a network that communicablycouples the host computer system to at least one user computer; whereinthe host computer system is programmed to: receive a request from theuser computer to initiate a network architecture planning process;transmit an electronic file comprising a first display screen to theuser computer, wherein the first display screen comprises a questionrelating to a parameter of the network architecture; receive at the hostcomputer system a first response to the question; transmit an electronicfile comprising at least a second display screen to the user computer,wherein the second display screen comprises context-sensitive contentbased on at least one previous response; receive at the host computersystem at least a second response to the at least a second displayscreen; determine at least a first action based on the first responseand the at least a second response; and transmit information relating tothe at least a first action for display at the user computer.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein the network architecture relatesto a portion of the public switched telephone network.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the host computer system is furtherprogrammed to validate the first response.
 13. The system according toclaim 10, wherein the at least a first action comprises adding at leastone configuration item related to the network architecture to a list ofconfiguration items.
 14. The system according to claim 10, wherein theat least a first action comprises contacting an individual forinformation relating to the network architecture.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the at least a first action comprisesobtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the educationalinformation is located on a web site and the information relating to theat least a first action comprises a URL for the web site.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the at least a first action comprisescompleting a form relating to the network architecture.
 18. A method ofplanning, comprising: receiving at a host computer system a request toinitiate a planning process; transmitting to a user computer anelectronic file comprising at least a first object, wherein the at leasta first object requests a response; receiving at the host computersystem a first response from the user computer; determining at least anext object; transmitting an electronic file comprising the at least anext object to the user computer; receiving a next response; and listingat least a first action relating to the first response and the nextresponse.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing thefirst response and the at least a second response.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein the at least a first action comprisesadding at least one configuration item related to the planning processto a list of configuration items.
 21. The method according to claim 18,wherein the at least a first action comprises contacting an individualfor information relating to the planning process.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 18, wherein the at least a first action comprisesobtaining educational information relating to the planning process. 23.The method according to claim 22, wherein the educational information islocated on a web site and the at least a first action comprises a URLfor the web site.
 24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the atleast a first action comprises completing a form relating to theplanning process.